Chain coupling device

Abstract

A chain coupling device comprising a ring member adapted to be coupled to a hoisting mechanism, and a chain coupling mechanism adapted to be coupled to at least two hoisting chains (101, 201). The chain coupling mechanism comprises a unitary anchoring body (1) being made in one piece and being securable to the ring member. The unitary anchoring body has at least two pairs (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) of anchoring projections, each pair of anchoring projections being provided with a detachable anchoring pin (6d, 7d) for anchoring an end link (102, 202) of an associated hoisting chain (101, 201) to the unitary anchoring body. The unitary anchoring body also has at least one pair (10a, 10b; 11a, 11b) of coupling projections being located at a distance from a corresponding pair of anchoring projections and being provided with seating surfaces for accommodating one (204) of the links of the associated hoisting chain.

I claim: 
     
       1. A chain coupling device comprising a ring member adapted to be coupled to a hoisting means, and a chain coupling means adapted to be coupled to at least two hoisting chains (101, 201), characterized in that said chain coupling means comprises a unitary anchoring body (1) being made in one piece and being secured to said ring member, said unitary anchoring body having at least two pairs (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) of anchoring projections, each pair of anchoring projections being provided with a detachable anchoring pin (6d, 7d) for anchoring an end link (102, 202) of an associated hoisting chain (101, 201) to said unitary anchoring body, said unitary anchoring body also having at least one pair (10a, 10b; 11a, 11b) of coupling projections being located at a distance from a corresponding pair of anchoring projections and being provided with seating surfaces (10d, 10e, 11d, 11e) for accommodating one (204) of the links of said associated hoisting chain.   
     
     
       2. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary anchoring body (50') and said ring member (20) are made in one piece. 
     
     
       3. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary anchoring body (2) and said ring member (20') are permanently connected to each other. 
     
     
       4. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary anchoring body (2a) is detachably connected to said ring member. 
     
     
       5. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 1, wherein the adjacent pairs of anchoring projections are oriented at an angle to each other. 
     
     
       6. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary anchoring body (1') comprises a plate (50), said pairs of anchoring projections and said pairs of coupling projections being located on at least one side of said plate. 
     
     
       7. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one pair (51a, 51b; 53a, 53b) of anchoring projections and at least one pair (55a, 55b; 57a, 57b) of coupling projections are located on each side of said plate (50). 
     
     
       8. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 7, wherein two pairs (51a, 51b; 52a, 52b) of anchoring projections and two pairs (55a, 55b; 56a, 56b) of coupling projections are located on one side of said plate. 
     
     
       9. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary anchoring body comprises a central, axially extending rod (3), said pairs (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) of anchoring projections and said pairs (10a, 10b; 11a, 11b) of coupling projections extending substantially radially from said rod. 
     
     
       10. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 9, wherein said pairs (26', 27', 28') of anchoring projections and said pairs (30', 31', 32') of coupling projections are circumferentially distributed in first and second radial planes, respectively. 
     
     
       11. A chain coupling device as defined in claim 10, wherein said pairs (26', 27', 28') of anchoring projections are uniformly distributed in said first radial plane and said pairs (30', 31', 32') of coupling projections are uniformly distributed in said second radial plane. 
     
     
       12. A chain coupling means for use together with a ring member to be coupled to a hoisting means, said chain coupling means being adapted to be coupled to at least two hoisting chains (101, 102), characterized in that said chain coupling means comprises a unitary anchoring body (1) being made in one piece and being securable to said ring member, said unitary anchoring body having at least two pairs (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) of anchoring projections, each pair of anchoring projections being provided with a detachable anchoring pin (6d, 7d) for anchoring an end link (102, 202) of an associated hoisting chain (101, 201) to said unitary anchoring body, said unitary anchoring body also having at least one pair (10a, 10b; 11a, 11b) of coupling projections being located at a distance from a corresponding pair of anchoring projections and being provided with seating surfaces (10d, 10e, 11d, 11e) for accommodating one (204) of the links of said associated hoisting chain.